Real Madrid v Liverpool: A look at previous Champions League finals between English and Spanish clubs

May 26, 2018

Real Madrid v Liverpool: A look at previous Champions League finals between English and Spanish clubs

Liverpool will face Real Madrid in the 2018 Champions League final on Saturday, live on talkSPORT at 7:45pm.

However this is not the first time that an English side has faced off with Spanish opposition for the biggest prize in club football.

In fact, it’s not even the first time Liverpool have played Real Madrid for the trophy!

Four previous finals have featured an England v Spain fixture, take a look at them in more detail below.

1981: Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid

Back in 1981, when the Champions League was the European Cup and reserved solely for domestic champions, Liverpool met Real Madrid in the final at the Parc des Princes. The Reds came out on top to claim their third trophy and a fifth consecutive victory for English sides in the competition. Left-back Alan Kennedy was the surprise goalscoring hero for the Reds, having also netted in the League Cup final a couple of months earlier.

2006: Barcelona 2-1 Arsenal

25 years later, there was a second English-Spanish final as Barcelona clashed with Arsenal. Again the game took place in Paris, however this time the Spaniards emerged victorious. The Gunners took the lead through Sol Campbell despite Jens Lehmann being sent off early on, but Barcelona hit back through Samuel Eto’o and Juliano Belletti to snatch victory.

2009: Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United

The next England v Spain meeting in the Champions League final came just three years later in Rome. Barcelona again overcame an English side, though this time it was Manchester United. Samuel Eto’o scored to give the Blaugrana an early lead before a famous Lionel Messi header secured victory.

2011: Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United

United were given a chance at revenge over Barca a couple of years later, but despite having this final on home soil at Wembley Stadium, the Red Devils were still ultimately humbled by Pep Guardiola’s men. After Pedro gave Barcelona the lead on 27 minutes, Wayne Rooney hit back. However, second half goals from Lionel Messi and David Villa settled the tie in the Catalans’ favour.